Inspiring Children to Become Resilient Global Citizens

"Start children on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it." – Proverbs 22:6

At Woodseaves CE Academy, Religious Education is at the heart of our vision to inspire, respect and achieve. As a Church of England school, we provide an inclusive Religious Education curriculum that enables children to explore a range of religions, beliefs and worldviews represented in modern Britain and across the world.

Our RE curriculum encourages children to explore big questions about meaning, purpose, identity, belonging and belief. Through thoughtful discussion, enquiry and reflection, pupils learn to respect different viewpoints, develop their own ideas and become compassionate, informed citizens.

 

Our Intent

Through Religious Education, we aim to:

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• Develop knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews.

• Build knowledge of Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Hindu (Sanatana) Dharma, Christianity and Humanism.

• Encourage curiosity and thoughtful questioning about faith, belief and the world around us.

• Help pupils appreciate diversity and respect the beliefs of others.

• Promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

• Support children in understanding British Values and their role within a diverse society.

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Our curriculum enables children to understand how beliefs influence individuals, communities and cultures while encouraging them to reflect on their own values and experiences.

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How We Teach RE

We follow the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2023–2028) and teach RE throughout every year group using our two-year rolling curriculum to reflect our mixed-age classes.

Learning is organised around three key curriculum golden threads:

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God (Theology)

Children explore beliefs about God, spirituality and faith through the study of different religions and worldviews.

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Community (Sociology)

Children investigate how belonging to a faith or belief community influences people's lives, traditions and actions.

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Identity (Philosophy)

Children reflect on big questions about meaning, purpose, truth and morality while developing their own worldview.

These threads ensure learning builds progressively from EYFS to Year 6 and helps children understand not only what people believe, but why beliefs matter.

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What Children Learn

Early Years Foundation Stage

RE begins with children's own experiences and explores questions such as:

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• Who am I and where do I belong?

• Why do we have celebrations?

• What makes a place special?

• What can we learn from stories?

• What makes something special?

• What makes our world wonderful?

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Learning is delivered through continuous provision, stories, discussion, play and exploration.

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Key Stage 1

Children develop their understanding of:

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• Christianity

• Judaism

• Islam

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They learn through stories, celebrations, sacred texts, traditions, worship and visits, while beginning to compare different beliefs and practices.

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Key Stage 2

Children deepen their understanding of:

• Christianity

• Judaism

• Islam

• Sikhism

• Hindu (Sanatana) Dharma

• Humanism

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Pupils investigate how beliefs shape communities, explore philosophical questions and compare religious and non-religious worldviews.

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Thinking Like a Theologian, Sociologist and Philosopher

Our pupils learn RE through three key disciplinary approaches:

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Making Sense of the Text

Understanding stories, sacred texts, beliefs and teachings.

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Understanding the Impact

Exploring how beliefs influence people's lives, actions and communities.

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Making Connections

Reflecting on personal beliefs, values and important questions about life.

These approaches help children move beyond simply learning facts and develop deeper understanding and critical thinking skills.

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Learning Beyond the Classroom

We believe that encountering lived religion and belief is an essential part of Religious Education.

Children have opportunities to:

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• Visit local places of worship.

• Learn from visitors representing different faith communities.

• Explore a range of religious traditions and practices.

• Handle religious artefacts and investigate sacred texts.

• Reflect on beliefs, values and identity through discussion and enquiry.

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These experiences help bring learning to life and broaden children's understanding of the wider world.

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Inclusion and Respect

At Woodseaves, we believe Religious Education should be accessible to every child.

Learning is carefully adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND, EAL learners and disadvantaged pupils. Through discussion, practical experiences, visual resources and carefully structured support, all children can engage meaningfully with religious and philosophical learning.

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RE, Diversity and Global Citizenship

Religious Education plays an important role in helping children understand the diverse world in which they live.

Through RE, children explore:

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• Respect for different beliefs and cultures.

• Community and belonging.

• Identity and diversity.

• Ethical decision-making.

• Shared values across different faiths and worldviews.

• The importance of mutual respect and understanding.

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These experiences support pupils to flourish academically, socially, spiritually and morally.

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The Impact of Our RE Curriculum

As children move through Woodseaves, they develop:

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• A secure understanding of arrange of religions and worldviews.

• Respect for different beliefs, cultures and traditions.

• Strong religious vocabulary and subject knowledge.

• The ability to discuss and debate big questions thoughtfully.

• An understanding of how beliefs and values shape lives and communities.

• Confidence in expressing their own ideas while listening respectfully to others.

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Our aim is for every child to leave Woodseaves with the knowledge, understanding and character needed to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.